The Fire Prevention Unit of St. Catharines Fire Services is responsible for enforcing fire safety and educating the public.
Location and hours of operation
Our Fire Prevention Office is located at:
360 Niagara Street
St. Catharines, ON
L2M 4W1
The office is open from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For all fire-related emergencies, please call 9-1-1. Operators are available at all times.
Duties and responsibilities
Our Fire Services division is responsible for:
- Conducting fire and safety inspections for compliance with the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, the Ontario Fire Code, Ontario Building Code and other relevant legislation
- Inspections include both new and existing buildings of any size or type within the city and can be initiated through complaint, request or other circumstances
- As per the City's 2024 - 2026 Rates and Fees By-law, a fee of $206.15 will be invoiced to the owner of the property for inspections where Ontario Fire Code violations are identified.
- Reviewing building plans for new buildings and evaluating development proposals and site plans
- Enforcing Fire Code retrofit requirements and the maintenance of a building's life safety systems and equipment, and issuing plan approvals for compliance equivalencies for existing buildings
- Granting approvals to fire safety plans after evaluation by the Fire Prevention Office and Fire Chief
- Enforcing the Fire Protection and Prevention Act in non-compliance cases by prosecuting offenders
- Developing, evaluating and delivering public education programs, including presentations, talks, workgroups and events to various age groups
- Training and support
- Public relations and communications
- Investigating and analyzing fire incidents and determining the origin, cause and development of a fire